Reactions across the political spectrum followed Sunday’s contested elections in the north, which resulted in a decisive win for Tufan Erhürman.
'Prime Minister' Ünal Üstel emphasised the need to “draw lessons from the ballot box”, calling the process “a very fine example of democracy”.
“The people expressed their preferences at the ballot box. There are lessons to be learned. We will evaluate the message from our people in the coming days and share it with them,” he said.
Erhan Arıklı, 'Transport Minister' and leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP), called the result “truly surprising”.
“There is a serious vote gap. It’s clear that votes shifted even from right-wing parties. Protest votes went in that direction,” he remarked, adding that “the will of the people has been expressed.”
He also described Erhürman’s first speech as “prudent”, while admitting to major strategic errors:“Forming an alliance from the first round was, in our view, a mistake.”
Calls for early 'parliamentary' elections
Meanwhile, Kudret Özersay, leader of the People’s Party (HP), congratulated Erhürman and issued a stark call for the immediate resignation of the current “government”.
In a statement, he argued that Turkish Cypriot voters had made clear that they do not accept the “illegitimate government”, which he said had already been rejected in past municipal and by-elections.
“What must happen now is for the government to resign immediately,” Özersay stated, calling for the formation of an “interim government” to prepare for “early parliamentary elections”.